Gamescom and European crowds

1VERSE recently became the first K-pop act invited to perform at Gamescom in Cologne. We asked how that moment felt, and whether performing for a European crowd differed from other stops on their world tour.

The members said they were surprised and honored to be the first, especially with so many senior artists who could have taken that stage before them. They also noticed that crowds react differently from one country to another: some nights the audience is loud and energetic, while others are quieter, focused on the songs and closely watching the choreography. They enjoyed seeing those differences up close.

They added that they have not had many chances to perform for a Korean audience yet, and that European fans have set a high standard for them. They said every region has its own spark, and that they are curious to see how Korea will compare.

Writing "LOOP": it clicked right away

We asked whether the claw machine concept ever risked turning into something completely different during the writing process. According to the members, it did not. The idea came together naturally, because it was something they were all living: they had been going to arcades and claw machines together, and the song grew from there.

They also stressed that a song does not need to be complicated. They noted that "WABIF" took only about eight hours to make, and that for a fun track like "LOOP," they wanted to keep the process fun as well.

Their Image of Switzerland

To close, we asked what clichés they associate with Switzerland, where KFM Radio is based. It turned into one of the most playful moments of the call.

The members admitted they have never been there, and one even thought for a second that they already had. They said the country looks beautiful in pictures, and that if 5TARZ are there, they would obviously have to visit.

Their wish list: the Swiss mountains, and very dark Swiss chocolate, the bitter kind at 70% cocoa or more. A short geography debate also broke out over whether Copenhagen is in Denmark or Switzerland, which they settled with a laugh.

Thank You

A big thank you to Kenny, Nathan, and Aito for their time, their humor, and their generous answers, and to Singing Beetle, especially Nick Peña, for welcoming KFM Radio to this session and for making it possible for so many outlets around the world to take part.

"LOOP" is out now on all major streaming platforms.

Photo credit: Singing Beetle

Julie — Editor-in-Chief, KFM Radio